Electrical display device.



H. A. KUNITZ.

ELECTRICAL DISPLAY DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 19, 1911.

1, 1 08, 1 90. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

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ELECTRICAL DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1911.

1,108,190. Patented Aug. 25, 1914 Z. SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HANNIBAL A. KUNIrz, oF rrr'rsBUnGii, P

ENNSYLVANIA, ASISIGNOB. 0E QNE-HLF T O WILLIAM T. CA'HOON, 0FIITTSFBRGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application filed lay 19. 1911. Serial No. 628,324.

Specification of Letters `Patent.

Patented Aug'. 2.5, 1914.

To all ywhom it may concern Be it knownthat'I, HANNIBAL A. KUNrrz, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Electrical Display Devices; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to electric display devices for ornamental andadvertising uses. In devices of this nature electric lights of varyingtypes and various colors are employed to ornament and illuminate theexterior and interior of buildings, and advertising signs and the like.For the latter purpose these ornamental illuminating devices are usuallyarranged to be periodically electrified and put out, so as to call theattention of the public to the illuminated advertising matter inconnection with which To accomplish this result some type of electricmake and break device, termed an electric sign flasher is generallyemployed so that the display device properfand the advertising matterare electrified alternately or according to some desired plan so thatthe entire advertising sign will be beautilied and the attention of thepublic drawn thereto.

The object of my invention 1s to greatly improve the ornamental effectsattainable in this type of device, and to produce a display the varyingform and color ofwhich continually changes in shape and shade for a longinterval of time so as to produce a beautiful and striking effect.

My invention contemplates a device of this character comprising anelectric light tube, preferably of the Geissleror vacuum tube type, andpreferably a plurality oi such tubes' being arranged in series inproximity to each other, and means for simultaneously revolving saidtube or tubes and otherwise moving or preferably rotating the same so asto produce a variegated light effect.

My invention also consists in providing .'rotatingtand revolvingmechanism actuating a dis frame on which the light-tubes are carriedhmdstorming in itself part of electric circuit by which the tubes areilluminated. It also consists 1n a number of'other featuresofconstruction and combination of parts as hereinafter more specificallydescribed.

On the accompanying drawings FigureV 1 is a Jiront elevation of adisplay device embodying my invention. Fig; 2 is a plan view 3 is avertical section of the saine. Fig. of the same on line 3-3 Fig. l. Fig.4 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the essential features'of theelectrifyingsystem employed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section throughone of the vacuum tubes illustrated.

The rotary disk frame l illustrated is mounted on a metallic shaft 2journaled 'in the bearing brackets 3, 3. The shaft 2 is driven in anysuitable manner `-|as through the pulley 4 and leather belt 5 leading toany suitable source of power, suchas a motor. The light-'tubes 7 (asshown diagrammatically in Fig. 4) are rotatably .mounted on the diskframe l. I preerably employ a considerable number of such tubes 7 ,eachtube varying somewhat in form and in color of light from the others. InAFigs. 1 t0 3 I have illustrated four of such tubes, namely, the tubes7a, 7", 7, 7d, separately mounted, and the tube 7d', which is mounted torotate with the tube 7d, making five in all. The tubes are carried onrotary disks 8, 8b, 8, and 8d, respectively. The aforesaid disks arecarried respectively by the metallic shafts 9a, 91. 9c and 9d eachjournaled in a bearing 10 in the form of a bushing of brass, iron orother conducting material mounted in the disk l of the disk frame l,which is preferably of fiber, wood or like insulating material. Each ofthe disks 8 is also preferably of insulating material and 1s hub 1lfastened to its respective shaft 9 or 9b, etc'. The tubes 7 arepreferably Geissler tubes, by which I mean vacuum tubes provided with apositive and negative pole or electrode, and so constructed as whenelectrified, to cast a well defined filamentous light which preservesits shape and definite extent to a great degree when rotated even at ahigh rate, as distinguished from a mere carbon filament or other similartype of lamp, thelight from which when rotated at aY moderate: ratebecomes indefinite and blurred so as to appear merely asa'spot orcircle. It will be understood, however, that myI invention is notlimited to the use ot any provided with the metallic bushing or.n

specific form or type of lamp or light tube,

and that the term light-tube as used herein and in intended merely todesignate a type or lamp which isadapted to produce the well knownilluminating effects of the Geisssaid electrical tubes 7, 7b, etc.. arefurther' more preferably so arranged that when rotated, one or more ofthem traverses successively part of the path passed over by anotheil orothers of the tubes. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tube- 71is so mounted on the disk 8d that it successively passes. over part ofthe space S on the plan of the disk l which is passed over also by thetube 7, the mounting and rotation of the said tubes to be describedbelow permitting of this operation without the contact of the tubes. Anequivalent light effect may be produced, however, by providing a longershaft carrying the disk on which a tube is mounted. Thus the tube 7cwhich is illustrated as a relatively very long tube has its carryingdisk 8c mounted on a shaft 9c which extends far enough out from the diskframe 1 to permit the rotation of the tube 7c the tubes 7d and 7d. It isevident that the appearance in plan View or elevation, z'. e., to theeye, when the electrified Alight-tubes are rotated and simultaneouslyrevolved` is that of intertwining and constantly varying lines or formsof lights of. different colors.

The variegated colors are conveniently produced by a colored liquidcarried within each tube, as 7c and around the vacuated inner tubeorsnake 13, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The sprocket wheel 14 of insulating material is carried fXedly on theshaft 2 and connected by means of the sprocket chain 15 to the sprocketwheel 16 splined or otherwise fastened to the short countershaft 18journaled in the bearing bracket 19. The sprocket wheel 14 is formedconveniently of two disks 14 of fiber or wood separated by a centraldisk 14 of fiber which is 'serrated at its margin to form the sprocketteeth 19, a number of the other insulated sprocket wheels illustratedbeing similarly constructed but not specifically described, as to thisfeature.

A sprocket wheel 2O is also fastened to the l shaft 18 and connected bythe chain- 21 to the Wheel 22 rotatably journaled on the driving shaft2. The Wheel 22 is of insulating material, preferably similar inconstruction to the wheel 14 above described, 4"but is provided with themetallic contact face 23 on which the chain 21 meshing with thegear'teeth 24 plays. Another sprocket wheel illustrated merely asanother set of sprocket teeth 25 on they portion 22 of the wheel 22 isconnected 'i by the sprocket chain.

the accompanying claims is produced by' the 26 to the sprocket wheel 27mounted on the shaft 9a. The contact face 23 on the sprocket wheel 22 iscontinued at 23 so as to contact with the links of the chain 26andtransmit. current through the said chain to the1 sprocket wheel 27 ofconducting materia The disk fra-me 1 is constructed preferably of thetwo disks 1 and 12 rigidly connected by the screw boltsl 50 extendingthrough the bracing studs 51. The disk 1 is preferably mounted on theshaft 2 by the metallic hub 52 which is suitably fastened to the disk 1as by the bolts 54; the disk4 12 being provided with a suitableaperture12 through which the shaft 2 extends.

The shaft'Qa-carrying the gear wheel. 27 v extends rearwardly throughthedisk 12, but the other shafts 9b, 9, and 9d journaled in theirrespective bearings 10 in theA disk proper 1 do not extend beyond thedisk 12, so that the said disk trated close to the bed box or likemounting 55 asI illustrated in Fig. 3.

The. sprocket wheel 28, preferably of insulating material, is mounted onthe shaft 9, and similar sprocket wheels 29, 30 and 31 are mounted'onthe shafts 9b, 9C, 9d, respectively, between the disks 1 and 12.- Thesprocket chain 32 connects the wheels 28, 29, etc. The said Wheels arepreferably of varying size or number of sprockets, as illustrated, sothatthe rotation imparted through the sprocket wheel 28 and chain 32will drive the shafts 9a. 9L?. etc., at varying rates, thereby rotatingthe light tubes 7a, 7", etc.. at varyingspeeds so as to produce anydesired light effect. The disks'8a, 8", etc., on which the tubes 7a, 7",etc., are mounted, are of fiber or like insulating material, each.having a circumferential band or strip 35 of metal with which one ofthe brushes 36 carried on 'the disk1"contacts. The lighttubes 77b, etc..are preferably fastened, as bythe wires 37 to the carrying arms 38.respectively, each provided with a metal sleeve 39 which fits over theend of one of the shafts 9a, 9b, etc., (see Fig.l 3). The carrying arms38 are fastened rigid with the disks 8, 8b, etc., preferably by the setscrews 40. hese carrying arms 38 vary somewhat in form,.as shown in Fig.1,-each however, being provided with the counterweight 41 having aslotted arm 42 fastened to the carrying arm 38 by a set screw 43, sothat the position of the counterweight may be varied to accuratelybalance any light-tube as 7b which may be attached to the carrying arm.

Each light-tube, as v,711, is provided with'a wire 44 connecting onehofits poles 45 with a circumferential metallicXstrip 35 on the disk, as8a; and with another wire 4G connecting .its opposite pole 47 withv themetallic disk hub l1 or shaft, as 9e. The Wires 48 concan beconveniently rof nect each of the spring brushes 36 with the only anovel light eect due to the revoluiixed metallic hub 10 of the adjacentshaft, tion and mutual rotation of the light-tubes, as 9b carrying theadjacent tube as 7b, to but also an infinite numberfof variations inwhich current is connected from the hub l() the lighting effect byadjustment in the through the shaft 9* and wire 46. The curmechanism. v70 rent after passing through the tube 7" trav- What I' claim is: yerses the wire l-i, contact surface 35, brush 1.V A device of the.character described 36 and wire 4:8 leading to the next tube 7,comprising a plurality of electric lightand thence in a similar mannerthrough the tubes, il -rtiltdble SHPPOI for each tube, a

10 tube 7 d, and 7 d', which is connected by a frame iii which saidsupports are journaled, 75

the metal hub 52 of the disk l mounted on any preferred fashion to asuitable vibrator trated in Fig. 4

3o bracket 19, countershaft i8 and sprocket 85 and shaft 9a. The currentthen passes from 25 on the double gear Wheel22, 22 are so 9'd and eachof the shafts 9, 9, and 9d is ing the size of the particular sprocketWheel teeth 23, 240i the eifective sizes of any one Wire i6 totheconducting surface or strip and actuating mechanism forming part of35 of the disk 8d. the electric circuit of said tubes and co-` 'The wireor metallic strip 4 9 leads from Operating with said frame tosimultanethe brush 36 in contact with the disk 81 to ously rotate thesame and said tube supports. l SQ A device of the character describedcomprising a plurality of Geissler tubes, a .rotatable support for eachtube, a frame in which said supports are journaled, and actuatingmechanism coperating with said g5 frame to simultaneously rotate thesame and Asaid supports, said actuating mechanism forming part of theelectric circuit of lsaid tubes. 3. A device of the character describedcomprising an insulating frame, an insulating support and a conductingshaft carrying the same and journaled in said frame, and al lightcarried by said support, in combination vwith asecondconducting shaftcarrying said frame, an electrical connection betweensaid second shaftand said light, and another conductor connected to said conducting shaftjournaled in said frame, and means for independently Arotating saidframe and support.

e. A device of the character described comprising an insulating frame,an insulating support and a conducting shaft carrying the same andjournaled in said frame, 10.5 and a light carried by said support, incombination With a second conducting shaft carrying said frame, anelectrical connection between said second shaft and said light, aninsulating gear Wheel journaled on said shaft carrying said frame, andconducting gearing connections between said gear Wheel and said shaftjournaled in said frame.

5. A device of the character described comprising an insulating frame, aplurality of insulating disk supports, a conducting shaft carrying eachsupport and journaled in said lframe; an electrical connection carryingcurrent to one of said shafts, a light carried by each shaft andprovided with a conductor 4communicating therewith, another conductorleading from each light to the shaft of another light, a returnconductor leading from one of theother lights, and means ,forsimultaneously rotating said frame and said shafts journaled therein.

6. A device of the character described comprising an insulating frame, aplurality of insulating supports, a conducting shaft carrying eachsupport and journaled in the shaft 2. The shaft 2 '1s-connected in anysuitable manner as by the wire N electrically joined to the bearing 3 toa source of current. The circuit may be continued in or equivalentdevice k(not illustrated) by which the peculiar interrupted currentnecessary to illuminte the Geissler tubes employed is produced, thevvires M', N illusi being understood as leading, one of them, fromthesecondary coil of such a vibrator. l-prefer, however, to pro. vide thereturn Wire M electrically joined to the metallic sprocket chain 21 bythe bearing Wheel 20. The metallic circuit is then continuous. throughthe metal faces 23, 23', of the insulating gear wheel 2Q and sprocketchain 26 to the metallic sprocket Wheel 27 the shaft 9a through themetal hub l1 and Wire 46 to the first light tube 'la and thence throughthe other` tubes as escribed above.

The relative numbers of gear teeth 24 and arranged that when the shaft 2is rotated carrying with it the disk. frame 1 the sprocket wheel 22 willhave a rotation differing from that of the shaft 2. The shaft thenrotated through the sprocket chain 26, Wheels 27 and 28 and sprocketchain 32. The rates of rotation of each of the tubes may be arranged andvaried at will by vary- Q7, or 29, etc., mounted on its shaft 9a or 9b,etc. The rate of rotation of allthe tubes moreover is convenientlyregulated -by changing either the number of sprocket of the sprocketwheels le, 16 or 20. therefore provide a convenient mechanism by whichthe light tubes are simultaneously revolved and rotated, the said'mechanism' 60 serving as part of the conducting electric circuit ofsaid tubes,l and being capable further of slight adjustment or changesof varying the rate of rotation of all the tubes and also their relativerates of rotation. 65 therefore provide means for obtaining not 4 fromits light electrical connection carrying current to one of said shafts,a light carried by each shaft and provided With a conductorcommunicating therewith, each of said supports having a continuousconducting surface and a conductor leading thereto, a brush carried bysaid frame in Contact with each of said surfaces and provided with anelectric connection to another of said shafts, a brush on said frame, an

- said frame in contact'with one of said sur- .insulating sprocket facesconnected to the return circuit, and means cooperating therewith forsimultaneously rotating said frame and each of said shafts j ournaledltherein.

i device ol.z the character described comprising an insulating frame, ametallic driving sl'iaft carrying the saine, a plurality of electriclights, a shaft carrying each light and jouriialed in said frame, anelectric cir cuit including said lights and a conductor communicating'with said driving shaft, an Wheel journaled on said driving shaft, andprovided With a metallic surface, a inetallic driving' connection inelectrical contact with said surface on said sprocket wheel, and each ofsaid shafts iournaled in said iframe, a driving connection hetvfeen saidsurface and said driving' shaft lout insulated l and an elec'- tricalcircuit leading through ing surface and said first mentioned drivingconnection and one of aforesaid journaled shafts to aforesaid electriclight circuit.

8, r comprising an insulating frame, a plurality of electric lights,metallic shafts carrying said lights and journaled in said france,v a onone of said shafts, a metallic driving shaft carrying said frame, aninsulating gear 'Wheel mounted on said driving shaft and provided with aconducting surface, a sprocket chain in contact with said surfaceconnecting said gear Wheel and aforesaid Wheel, an actuating connectionbetween said shaft on which said conducting gear Wheel is mounted andanother shaft journaled in said ifi-anic, an electrical circuitincluding said lights and said driving shaft, and a return metalliccircuit including said metallic surface, sprocket chain and conductingsprocket Wheel. ln testimony whereof l the said Hanniiiin il. "yhereunto set my hand. A

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nnrirrz have llifitnesses J l "il d..

onsoii, Grain device of the character described conducting gear-

